Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 30, 2025 (SKNIS): Minister of State with responsibility for Social Development, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, has wholeheartedly endorsed the passage of the Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the National Assembly on January 30, 2025.
The Bill, moved by the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, increases penalties for unsafe and reckless driving practices. It also includes stiffer measures for persons driving under the influence, while facilitating greater use of technology tools such as traffic cameras and automated ticketing systems. The aim is to ensure safer roads for all users.
Speaking in her capacity as the Co-chair of the Advisory Council on Citizen Security, Senator Phillip, welcomed the amendments as they are in keeping with the efforts of “creating and cultivating a society that is safe and peaceful.”
“I believe the issue of reckless and careless driving is similarly an all-of-society responsibility as has been shared and expressed by fellow members of this House,” the Honourable Phillip stated. “I want to make a clarion call to the public and members of society that if we truly, really want to create peaceful and safe societies [then] we all have to take responsibility.
“Also, we have to police each other, that is a big part of citizen security,” the minister of state continued. “It’s about how we relate and respond to each other when it comes to making sure that you are safe as an individual and that your fellow neighbour is safe.”
Honourable Phillip commended the provision in the amendment Bill that allows citizen reporting for reckless driving, noting that it increases the all-of-society approach necessary in safety and security matters.
An appeal was made to drivers of passenger buses to embrace safer driving practices given that they are responsible for the thousands of passengers who commute daily. The minister also stressed the provision for greater protection for children with tighter legislation requiring the use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts where applicable.
“It may not be the norm in our culture to ensure that our children are in car seats or to think about the fact that our children can easily be killed in vehicular accidents, but it is really important for us to do a better job at considering our children and young people to make sure that we protect them because without them we have no future,” Minister Phillip stated.
The Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed with unanimous consent by members of parliament in attendance.
